Created by a relatively small team in video game terms, Ninja Theory’s Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice surprised gamers with a sensitively-told story amid a dark fantasy world inspired by both Celtic and Norse mythology. The game’s distinctive look, heartbreaking tale, and combination of puzzle-solving and melee combat made Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice a hit with both players and critics, and fans were pleased when it was announced that the sequel Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 was in development during The Game Awards 2019.
Fans are hoping for a continuation of Senua’s story on par with the emotional resonance of the first, with explorations of mental health and incredible interpretations of psychosis in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 that are just as considered and nuanced as the previous game. From what players have been shown so far, it seems as if the follow-up title has kept the bar high in terms of its visuals, but not much is currently known about the game’s story. Senua may have relinquished her quest to bring her lover back from the dead, but that doesn’t mean she’s finished with the ones that killed him.
A Story Of Loss And Heartbreak
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is a haunting tale about loss and grief. Through non-sequential flashbacks, players learn about Senua’s traumatic childhood, including the suffering she experienced because of both her “curse” and her father’s abuse, as well as witnessing the death of her mother when she was only a small child. Senua’s loss of one parent and the abuse at the hands of the other have shaped not only her life but also her mental health, and serve as contributing factors to her psychosis. Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice handles these elements with a level of sensitivity and respect that’s not often seen in video games, as well as with creativity that helps to make them feel accessible as well as affecting.
Senua’s quest into Helheim to confront Hela and retrieve the soul of her lover Dillion serves as the backbone for Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice’s story, but the themes of loss and grief, as well as exploration of mental health, are what drive and shape the narrative. Senua’s final acceptance of Dillion’s death, as well as her own mental state, brings a satisfying close to the game, but the final moments leave plenty of room for further explorations of Senua’s state of mind. It’s clear her story is not over, and players are looking forward to seeing what Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 will bring.
A Turn Towards Revenge
Gamers know that Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is bringing a gorgeous (yet grisly) array of visuals to the table, with impressive graphics throughout the initial promotional material and glimpses of gameplay. How the environments and settings are represented throughout the first game, as well as the physical manifestations of Senua’s mental state, were key factors in the first game, and it seems like Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 will be continuing with this trend. The gameplay that fans have seen so far has a heavy focus on atmosphere and cinematic horror to convey the themes, but players are wondering how those themes and story focus will manifest this time around.
The first game was about grief and Senua’s loss of her lover, but with her acceptance of his death, there are several ways that her saga could move on from there. While she may have accepted that Dillion is not coming back and that her “curse” is something she has come to live with, that doesn’t mean Senua isn’t angry about her lover’s or her own fate. She has dealt for the most part with the fear of her father and his abuse, but Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 may focus on the anger she could feel at her victimhood, as well as the rage she will undoubtedly harbor towards the Norsemen who slaughtered Dillion.
Senua may need to undertake another journey, this time fueled entirely by revenge, in order to come to another realization about acceptance and letting go. Anger is a natural part of the grieving process, and it could be the spark that ignites Senua’s quest for revenge, as well as another interesting filter to experience a different side of her psychosis through. Whatever tale Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 decides to tackle, it will no doubt be an intense, personal, and transformative experience for the resilient heroine.
Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is in development for PC and Xbox Series X/S.